Sen. Ron Wyden asks for criminal inquiry into Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after report on confirmation testimony

Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon called for a criminal investigation into U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after a report by The Guardian said newly obtained records contradict claims Kennedy made during Senate confirmation hearings last year.

In a statement cited by The Guardian on August 27, Wyden said the allegations warrant review by law enforcement rather than additional debate in Congress, asserting that Kennedy’s confirmation record includes statements that may have been false. The senator pointed to what the report describes as Kennedy’s testimony and supporting records related to a trip to Samoa.

The Guardian’s reporting characterizes the issue as a dispute over whether Kennedy “lied” during his confirmation process, based on newly obtained materials. Wyden’s request, according to the report, asks for criminal scrutiny of that discrepancy, framing the matter as one that could involve potential false statements in connection with a Senate confirmation.

The matter centers on the Senate confirmation hearings held last year, when Kennedy faced questions and submitted to a public vetting process for his role as health secretary. The Guardian report alleges that Kennedy’s account of the Samoa trip differs from records that have since been obtained, and it connects that alleged inconsistency to Wyden’s demand that prosecutors consider potential criminal violations.

A criminal investigation would shift the dispute from political accountability to the legal standards that govern false statements and the handling of evidence. Prosecutorial review, if it proceeds, would typically focus on what was said under oath or in sworn testimony, the intent behind any disputed statements, and whether any alleged inaccuracies meet the elements of federal criminal statutes.

Wyden’s move also underscores the continuing role of Congress in oversight of executive-branch officials, particularly when members argue that a confirmation record may not accurately reflect the facts. The request comes after Kennedy’s confirmation and after he began heading HHS, placing additional pressure on the administration to ensure public-facing records and statements remain consistent with documentation.

A decision about whether federal authorities open an investigation would be separate from any congressional action. The Guardian report provides the basis for Wyden’s request, but the next steps depend on whether investigators or prosecutors determine there is a sufficient evidentiary basis and legal basis to pursue potential charges.